Best Defense (1984)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $19,265,302 | Details |
| OpusData ID: 25950100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $7,872,297 (40.9% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 2.45 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 1,425 opening theaters/1,425 max. theaters, 3.0 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $64,848,373 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | July 20th, 1984 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Video Release: | January 27th, 2004 by Paramount Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | R |
| Running Time: | 94 minutes |
| Plot point: | Death of a Colleague, KGB, Non-Chronological, Satire, War |
| Social setting: | Military Life |
| Subgenre: | Satirical Comedy |
| Time period setting: | 1980s |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Paramount Pictures |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 1984 | 2 | $7,872,297 | 1,425 | $5,524 | $7,872,297 | 1 | |
| Jul 27, 1984 | 7 | $3,175,612 | -60% | 1,425 | $2,228 | $14,155,050 | 2 |
| Aug 3, 1984 | 15 | $1,469,636 | -54% | 921 | $1,596 | $17,026,305 | 3 |
| Aug 10, 1984 | 18 | $575,047 | -61% | 484 | $1,188 | $18,361,590 | 4 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 1984 | 3 | $10,979,438 | 1,425 | $7,705 | $10,979,438 | 1 | |
| Jul 27, 1984 | 7 | $4,577,231 | -58% | 1,425 | $3,212 | $15,556,669 | 2 |
| Aug 3, 1984 | 15 | $2,229,874 | -51% | 921 | $2,421 | $17,786,543 | 3 |
| David Rasche | Jeff the 'KBG' Agent | |
| Tom Noonan | Frank Holtzman |
Leading
| Eddie Murphy | Lieutenant T.M. Landry | |
| Dudley Moore | Wylie Cooper |
Supporting
| Kate Capshaw | Laura Cooper | |
| George Dzundza | Steve Loparino | |
| Helen Shaver | Clair Lewis, Wylie's Boss |
Production and Technical Credits
| Willard Huyck | Director | |
| Willard Huyck | Screenwriter | |
| Jennifer Parsons* | Costumer: Women |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $7,872,297 (40.9% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 2.45 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 1,425 opening theaters/1,425 max. theaters, 3.0 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $64,848,373 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | July 20th, 1984 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Video Release: | January 27th, 2004 by Paramount Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | R |
| Running Time: | 94 minutes |
| Plot point: | Death of a Colleague, KGB, Non-Chronological, Satire, War |
| Social setting: | Military Life |
| Subgenre: | Satirical Comedy |
| Time period setting: | 1980s |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Paramount Pictures |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 1984 | 2 | $7,872,297 | 1,425 | $5,524 | $7,872,297 | 1 | |
| Jul 27, 1984 | 7 | $3,175,612 | -60% | 1,425 | $2,228 | $14,155,050 | 2 |
| Aug 3, 1984 | 15 | $1,469,636 | -54% | 921 | $1,596 | $17,026,305 | 3 |
| Aug 10, 1984 | 18 | $575,047 | -61% | 484 | $1,188 | $18,361,590 | 4 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 1984 | 3 | $10,979,438 | 1,425 | $7,705 | $10,979,438 | 1 | |
| Jul 27, 1984 | 7 | $4,577,231 | -58% | 1,425 | $3,212 | $15,556,669 | 2 |
| Aug 3, 1984 | 15 | $2,229,874 | -51% | 921 | $2,421 | $17,786,543 | 3 |
| David Rasche | Jeff the 'KBG' Agent | |
| Tom Noonan | Frank Holtzman |
Leading
| Eddie Murphy | Lieutenant T.M. Landry | |
| Dudley Moore | Wylie Cooper |
Supporting
| Kate Capshaw | Laura Cooper | |
| George Dzundza | Steve Loparino | |
| Helen Shaver | Clair Lewis, Wylie's Boss |
Production and Technical Credits
| Willard Huyck | Director | |
| Willard Huyck | Screenwriter | |
| Jennifer Parsons* | Costumer: Women |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.